Ben, JD and Will Hayes import Grid Girl eyes bigger bucks in Mornington Guineas

Ex-Kiwi galloper Grid Girl will go after the bigger prizemoney in the Mornington Guineas after winning two of her three starts in Australia.

Shrewd New Zealand buy Grid Girl will step up to race for bigger bucks in Saturday’s Mornington Guineas.

Bloodstock agents secured Grid Girl for trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes after the filly had finished third in two New Zealand outings last spring.

Grid Girl should have arrived in Australia as a winner after finding trouble in her second outing at Hastings when beaten three-quarters of a length in an open three-year-old race.

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The form out of that race stood up when Molly Bloom, who finished on Grid Girl’s heels in the 1300m race went on to win the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas two starts later.

“She’d had a couple of good runs and had form around Molly Bloom, who wasn’t a Group 1 winner at the time, before we bought her,” Ben Hayes said.

“It was a good purchase.”

Grid Girl has repaid more than $50,000 of her purchase price in three Victorian runs but will chase $150,000 in stakes in the Mornington Guineas.

The daughter of British stallion Time Test’s time in Victoria has reaped two wins and a third with all runs being over 1400m.

Grid Girl has been a great purchase for the Hayes stable. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Grid Girl will jump to 1600m for the first time at Mornington.

Hayes said the manner of Grid Girl’s last win at Pakenham and her trackwork since indicated she was now looking for the distance.

“The best part of her last race was through the line, which is what you want to see,” Hayes said.

“She’s always been a good track worker at home, very enthusiastic, and that’s probably what pleased us most that she actually relaxed better and finished off.

“Stepping to a mile will be about her relaxing and finishing off and running a nice strong race.”

An impressive win in the Mornington Guineas could lead to the Lindsay Park operation targeting stakes races during the remainder of the Adelaide autumn carnival.

“If she was to win and look impressive, we would seriously look at heading in that direction,” Hayes said.

TAB customers have been keen to try their luck in the first 24 hours’ betting on the Mornington Guineas.

Grid Girl has firmed from $7.50 too $5.50 while last-start Pakenham maiden winner Stylish’s price has shortened from $10 to $6.

Blaike McDougall will ride Grid Girl in the Mornington Guineas.

Originally published as Ben, JD and Will Hayes import Grid Girl eyes bigger bucks in Mornington Guineas